Northwestern cutlery- old school chicago grinders

Hidden under the train tracks in the meat packing district is a little shop that's been sharpening knives for decades. 

David was a kid in a candy store.

Charlie was a toddler in a knife shop.

(So we didn't stay long)

but long enough to find:

They have new old stock items, 

stock that hasnt changed in design in a hundred years,

an ancient stone and water grinder.

Original signage, a wall of lodge cast iron skillets

and walls and walls of knives.

ranging from $4.00 to $2500.00

Northwestern Cutlery = amazingness.

100 year old Chicago Hardware store

Tucked just under the train tracks 1 block east of Lake street-
in the meat packing district-
is a teensy hardware store that is untouched by time.
Rubber boots to shovels, half of their stock has been on the shelf for (what appears to be)
several decades at least.

It reminds me of my dad's garage when we were kids growing up in Beardstown, Illinois.
It was called "Surratt's Auto Service"... and had a similiar patina.

If you consider a thick coat of dust patina

I hope they never change.

Forgotten Chicago- Snappy Service Station restaurant.

     I drive by this everyday.
A few weeks ago we noticed that the facade had been stripped, revealing a gorgeous 1930's enamel- tiled original front.
And a beaming sign that reads

SNAPPY SERVICE SYSTEM
5¢.

A little google digging reveals:

Forgotten Chicago research department went to the Newberry Library to go through Chicago white and yellow pages from 1925 to 1959, looking for “Snappy Service System” restaurant locations. The Snappy Service System restaurant recently revealed at 1141 North Ashland was curiously not listed in any of the phone books examined. 

Following are the Snappy Service Systems restaurants listed from 1934 (the first time these restaurants are listed) until 1959 (the last phone books examined): 

• 6340 North Ashland, 1934 through 1939; restaurant and general office 
• 3229 North Ashland, 1935 only 
• 3757 North Broadway, 1935 and 1936 
• 57 West Chicago, 1935 and 1936 
• 3309 North Ashland, 1936 only 
• 21 South Ashland, 1936 and 1944 to 1946 
• 1156 North Western, 1945 to 1959 
• 1603 West Madison, 1947 to 1949 
• 5605 West Chicago, 1948 to 1955 
• 6351 North Western, 1948 only 


And- a little more digging revealed that the chain had their own plates:
(How cute are these?)

A Rainy Day surprise

when charlie got home from school yesterday, 

she was met at the door with a lovely polka-dot box.

inside she found a giant bird's nest of woodshavings.

and after digging her way to the bottom, she discovered tucked away a 

GOLDEN HORSE WEARING A PARTY HAT.

and in invitation to a birthday party from our friends at Land Of Nod .

i love it.

but not as much as she does. (she now totes her ratatouille in one arm and the horse in the other)

(...and I seriously need to step up on invitation design after seeing this thing)

some outtakes from their shoot last year at camp:
a great little review on their visit to camp on their blog

Luxurious Sloth Jewelry

The other day, Daily Candy Chicago featured these amazing necklaces by local designer, Julie Ghatan. Julie's ever-evolving collection of jewelry is called Luxurious Sloth and is available at her Chicago boutique, Dovetail.





These feather fringe necklaces are crafty and colorful - a little tribal. They totally feel like camp arts and crafts to me. This ring at the bottom, also from Dovetail, reminds me of scouting badges.

You can check out Luxurious Sloth at Dovetail's brick and mortar store (at 1452 W. Chicago Ave.) or you can shop their Etsy store.

P.S. If you haven't seen it, you HAVE to check out the Kristen Bell sloth video that Daily Candy is referencing in their article. Fun fact about me: Veronica Mars was one of my favorite shows ever and I love Kristen Bell.

[image credits: Dovetail / Luxurious Sloth]